God, wooden pews, credited with saving crash victims

As police responded to the crash, which happened at about 8 p.m., a line of ambulances snaked up Central Avenue awaiting their turns at transport.

Moise Gourdet, a member of the Second Haitian Baptist Church, says he was one of the victims that was pinned under a car that plowed through the building Sunday. He says the pews and God saved his life.(Photo: Andrew West/ The News-Press)

Moise Gourdet was sitting in a church pew at the Second Haitian Baptist Church in Fort Myers on Sunday night when a car blasted through the east wall, tumbling the seats and the other congregation members into a jumbled mess.

Gourdet, 37, a Fort Myers resident, said he believes the sturdy pews protected him and others from a worse fate.

"If not for the pews, I'd be dead," he said.

Gourdet said the crash came so fast that before he realized what happened he was under the vehicle, a 2006 Lexus.

Gourdet escaped with minor injuries. Others at the church for an Easter concert, weren't as fortunate. Six remained in the hospital Monday, four in fair condition.

Many of the pews remained overturned amid bricks, glass and dust Monday morning.

As police responded to the crash, which happened at about 8 p.m., a line of ambulances snaked up Central Avenue awaiting their turns at transport. Most of the injuries were not serious, emergency officials said.

The car was driven by Marie Ange Masson, 31, of Fort Myers. Spenser Joram, 6, was in the car with her. Police said he was uninjured.

Eighteen victims were taken to the three hospitals for treatment after Sunday's crash at the Second Haitian Baptist Church in Fort Myers. As of Monday afternoon, 11 were discharged, two were listed in good condition and four were listed in fair condition. These are the victims who remained in the hospital as of Monday: